EU contribution:

Coordinated in:

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CP-IP - Large-scale integrating project

Objective

The metal-mechanic sector (turnover 970 billion ? a year) represents 8% of the total EU business. Welding is the most important joining technique in this sector; there are about 730,000 full time and 5.5 million welding related jobs in Europe. A threat is that welding is moved to low wages countries, leading to a decrease in European welding and welding related jobs with 3% each year (meaning 165,000 people). Welding has a great impact on health for it is physically high demanding leading to a high percenta ge of sick leave (yearly about 160 working hours per welder). The high sick leave costs are threatening the financial position of SMEs, endangering their competitiveness. ECONWELD will stop the downward spiral in which welding is at the moment, by: 1. Red uction of welding costs by 15-20% and improvement of production by 10-15 % The project comes up with solutions for (flexible) mechanisation of welding, The benefits of alternative (high speed and/or high deposition) welding processes will be demonstrated. 2. Reduction of sick leave of welders of 50 % and improvement of production by 10-15 % This will be achieved by an improvement of the organisation at welding. Reducing sick leave will pay off 80 hours, meaning 10 working days per welder per year. An imp roved productivity by 10-15 % will be possible by the development of new solutions to improve the work conditions (ergonomics and work flow). 3. Reduction of exposure to welding fumes of 30 % for GMAW welding and 20 % for other processes. Solutions will be found to reduce welding fumes at the source, a smart exhaust arm moving to the exact welding spot, a helmet with sensors indicating when the fume concentrations exceed safety limits and prototypes of welding torches with better ergonomics including fume e xtraction. Decrease of MAC value from 5,5 to 3,5 mg/m3. The results obtained in ECONWELD will give SMEs in Europe a better competitiveness as well as welding a better image of the profession.